Novel microchip for in situ TEM imaging of living organisms and bio-reactions in aqueous conditions.
A novel and disposable microchip (K-kit) with SiO(2) nano-membranes was developed and used as a specimen kit for in situ imaging of living organisms in an aqueous condition using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) without equipment modification. This K-kit enabled the successful TEM observation of living Escherichia coli cells and the tellurite reduction process in Klebsiella pneumoniae. The K. pneumoniae and Saccharomyces cerevisiae can stay alive in K-kit after continuous TEM imaging for up to 14 s and 42 s, respectively. Besides, different tellurite reduction profiles in cells grown in aerobic and anaerobic environments can be clearly revealed. These results demonstrate that the K-kit developed in this paper can be useful for observing living organisms and monitoring biological processes in situ.
Liu
Kuo-Liang
KL
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Tsing-Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
Wu
Chien-Chen
CC
Huang
Ying-Jung
YJ
Peng
Hwei-Ling
HL
Chang
Hwan-You
HY
Chang
Pin
P
Hsu
Long
L
Yew
Tri-Rung
TR
D001419:Bacteria / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002470:Cell Survival; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005658:Fungi / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D007711:Klebsiella pneumoniae / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D046208:Microchip Analytical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D055616:Microtechnology; D053758:Nanoparticles; D013691:Tellurium / Q000378:metabolism; D014867:Water
D014867:Water; C026660:tellurous acid; D013691:Tellurium